What is the correct way to pour champagne?

Question

I'm a waiter and have never been taught to pour champagne. What is the right way to pour it? Is the glass left on the table, do you pick it up? Do you pour the sparkling wine down the side of the glass by tilting it, or straight down into the middle?

Answer 1

to open the bottle be sure to place a napkin at the top of the neck over the cork to prevent injury or damage from a flying cork....there will be a recess in the bottom of the bottle so place your thumb in there and grasp the bottle with the rest of your hand/fingers.....pour slowly....you may leave the glass on the table if you like but watch for fizz...i would suggest you buy a bottle and practice....at the table in front of your diners is not the place to lose finesse  

Answer 2

Start off pouring it with both the bottle and the glass almost horizontal, then straighten up once the glass is about half full (like pouring a bottle of beer into a really small glass).

Also, don't call it champagne unless it's actually from Champagne, France.  Your clientele will be impressed by your snobbery.

Answer 3

Unless you have a grip that would give you a starting role in "five fingers of death," I would not recommend putting your thumb in the base of the bottle and your fingers around.  The better bottles of champagne and sparkling wines are heavy.  I believe the indent at the base of the champagne bottles first came about because the monks needed as much glass as possible to withstand the pressures of fermentation in the bottle.  As for pouring the bottle, I would recommend gently pouring only to halfway, down the side, down the middle, up to you.  I just gently pour straight in.  Allow the fizz to settle and then top off gently or not.  As for holding the glass at horizontal, I think that's for beer mugs.  I would not hold my riedel champagne glasses at an angle while pouring.  Those things cost a small fortune for a poor guy me and I could just see the stem breaking off.  Keep the glass on the table.   Good Luck

Answer 4

not sure about that bubbley but the other bubbley "BEER" you pour it down my gullet! NOW!

Answer 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rThtBvQQ...

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/22204...

http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/specials/1999/ch...

http://www.californiachampagnes.com/how_...

From my Bro

It is from this service were the wine steward or Sommelier serves the wine always from the right. All beverages are served from the right in formal service. The wine and all beverages bottle is always held in the right hand and served to each guest from their right. All food is served from the patron's left side with the waiters left hand. The French service is an exception where some house policies require from the right with the right hand.